Love and marriage

Jason Howe and his husband Adrian Perez lift their smiling twin daughters high above their heads on a day of celebration for gay marriage supporters across the United States.

On June 26, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark victory for gay rights, forcing the federal government to recognise same-sex marriage in states where it is legal and paving the way for it in California too.

26 Jun 2013. WASHINGTON, United States. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan

A demonstrator waves a rainbow flag as he waits for a decision from the Supreme Court on two key gay rights cases: the Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denied benefits to same-sex married couples, and a California state law called Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage.

When the rulings came, they represented a triumph for gay rights. The court struck down a core section of DOMA, which limited the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman for the purposes of federal benefits, and also helped clear the way for same-sex marriages in California.

Outside the courthouse, the raucous crowd of gay marriage supporters brandished signs, sang songs and waved rainbow flags. They called the rulings historic, even as they acknowledged that their goal of legalising gay marriage nationally had yet to be achieved.

26 Jun 2013. WASHINGTON, United States. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan

John Becker and his husband Michael Knaapen, both from Wisconsin, react with intense emotion to the key section of DOMA being struck down.

"There may be potholes on the road to equality, but it's a one-way street," said Becker, 28, who traveled to Canada in 2006 from his home in Wisconsin so he could marry Knaapen.

"To go from having to leave the country to get married, in seven years, to the steps of the Supreme Court to have the court recognise what's in our hearts - it can't be overstated."

26 Jun 2013. NEW YORK, United States. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Edith Windsor was the woman who successfully challenged DOMA. An 84-year-old lesbian widow, she sued the federal government after she was forced to pay additional estate taxes because it did not recognise her marriage to her late wife Thea Spyer.

Windsor said the news of her victory had brought tears of joy: "What a way to celebrate the life of my beloved Thea," she said.

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26 Jun 2013. WASHINGTON, United States. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan

Two gay rights demonstrators smile at each other as they hold up a banner outside the Supreme Court while waiting to hear the results of the rulings.

26 Jun 2013. WASHINGTON, United States. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Attorney David Boies (4th left), flanked by Jeff Zarrillo (2nd left), Paul Katami (3rd left), Sandy Stier (3rd right) and Kris Perry (2nd right), the four plaintiffs in the case against California's gay marriage ban known as Prop 8, celebrate with supporters on the steps of the Supreme Court building.

26 Jun 2013. WASHINGTON, United States. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Katami and Zarrillo greet relatives and supporters as they leave the court. At a news conference the same day, Katami turned to Zarrillo and said, "Today I finally get to look at the man that I love and finally say, 'Will you please marry me?'"

26 Jun 2013. LOS ANGELES, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Diane Olson holds the hand of her wife Robin Tyler at a news conference in Los Angeles, following the rulings. The couple were the first in California in 2004 to announce that they would file a lawsuit challenging the ban on same sex marriage in the state.

26 Jun 2013. WEST HOLLYWOOD, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Forty-seven-year-old Deirdre Weaver (left) and her wife, 48-year-old Nancy Grass hug at a rally in West Hollywood, California. The couple have been together for 15 years.

26 Jun 2013. SAN DIEGO, United States. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Friends Kelly Linley (left) and Katie Greiswold smile as they pose for a picture during a rally supporting the Supreme Court's decision.

Supporters celebrate during a television interview outside City Hall in West Hollywood.

26 Jun 2013. WEST HOLLYWOOD, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Forty-year-old Kim Granger (left) and her 39-year-old fiancee Hilda Alfaro kiss their four-month-old baby Quinn at a rally in West Hollywood, attended by more than 1,000 people.

26 Jun 2013. WEST HOLLYWOOD, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A man dressed as Jesus holds up a sign in support of gay marriage.

26 Jun 2013. WEST HOLLYWOOD, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Married couple Bill Hacket and Thom Uber hold hands in West Hollywood.

26 Jun 2013. NEW YORK, United States. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Men in the Stonewall Inn, the New York gay bar seen as the birthplace of the gay rights movement, watch coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on DOMA.

26 Jun 2013. NEW YORK, United States. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

New York State Senator Brad Hoylman speaks as his husband David Sigal reaches out to touch their daughter Silvia's hand in front of a crowd gathered to celebrate the ruling.

26 Jun 2013. NEW YORK, United States. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

People gather to listen to speakers near the Stonewall Inn, which has become synonymous with gay rights since a police raid there in 1969 triggered a demonstration, popularising the slogan: "Out of the closet and into the streets."